Apparatus and Method for Reproducing a Spatially Extended Sound Source or Apparatus and Method for Generating a Description for a Spatially Extended Sound Source Using Anchoring Information

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This patent describes an apparatus and method for realistically reproducing spatially extended sound sources (such as pianos, orchestras, or environmental sounds) in a way that their size, shape, and location can be perceived accurately by a listener moving through a physical or virtual space. By projecting the 2D or 3D shape ('hull') of a sound source onto a plane from the listener's perspective and rendering several positional sound signals based on this projection, the listener hears audio that matches the object’s physical reality as they move around it. This technology greatly enhances the realism of spatial audio in headphones or multichannel speaker setups, especially for virtual, augmented, or mixed reality.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Virtual reality or augmented reality experiences with accurate, immersive audio for objects having real size and shape (e.g., musical instruments, water fountains, crowds).
• Video game audio engines that render dynamic, realistic soundscapes as players move, supporting complex audio objects like vehicles or machinery.
• Simulation and training systems (e.g., flight simulators, architectural walkthroughs) requiring spatially accurate sound reproduction.
• Advanced concert or theater streaming, where listeners can move virtually through the venue and hear instruments from different angles.
• Creation or playback of immersive music or sound art that leverages spatially extended sound sources for artistic effect.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Delivers a much more realistic and convincing audio experience by accurately representing spatially extended sound sources based on their geometry and listener position.
• Reduces computational and data overhead compared to prior techniques by modeling only the hull projection and a minimal set of peripheral sound sources, rather than filling an entire volume with many point sources.
• Allows dynamic, real-time adaptation of audio as the listener moves, supporting six degrees of freedom (position and orientation) for true immersive environments.
• Enables efficient storage and transmission via compact bitstream representations, supporting compressed audio and geometric metadata.
• Supports legacy stereo/multichannel recordings by mapping them to spatially extended objects, facilitating easy migration to immersive audio platforms.

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Patent Abstract

Apparatus for reproducing a spatially extended sound source having a defined position or orientation and geometry in a space, the apparatus comprises an interface ( 100) for receiving a listener position; a projector (120) for calculating a projection of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional hull associated with the spatially extended sound source onto a projection plane using the listener position, information on the geometry of the spatially extended sound source, and information on the position of the spatially extended sound source; a sound position calculator (140) for calculating positions of at least two sound sources for the spatially extended sound source using the projection plane; and a renderer (160) for rendering the at least two sound sources at the positions to obtain a reproduction of the spatially extended sound source having two or more output signals, wherein the renderer (160) is configured to use different sound signals for the different positions, wherein the different sound signals are associated with the spatially extended sound source, and wherein the renderer (160) is configured for rendering the at least two sound sources relative to a fixed location and/or orientation of the spatially extended sound source in response to a specific information received.